Discrete event simulation using PL/I based general and special purpose simulation languages

This paper describes the architecture and language features of a simulation model which was developed using a new IBM discrete event simulation package based on PL/I. The package contains implementations of both the GPSS and SIMPL/I simulation languages, and in addition provides the capability for a model developer to create special purpose simulation languages tailored to his unique simulation application. The model described in this paper simulates a retail or supermarket store point-of-sale communication system. The model was written using both GPSS and SIMPL/I commands, but with a limited subset of the available commands in each language. Three special purpose languages were developed so that a model user can easily create a version of the model that simulates a particular store system. The model description illustrates the various language alternatives available with this new simulation package.